Adjustable picture-frame.



No. 723,497. PATENTED MAR. 24, 1903.

- c. 'H. STRAUSS.

ADJUSTABLE PICTURE FRAME.

APPLIOATION FILED OQT. 30, 1902.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

no MODEL.

Jhforgeys No. 723,497. PATENTED MAR. 24, 1903.

G. H. STRAUSS.

ADJUSTABLE PICTURE FRAME.

APPLICATION FILED 001. so, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET z.

N0 MODEL.

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CHARLES H. STRAUSS, OF PORT GAMBLE, WASHINGTON.

ADJUSTABLE PlCTURE-FRAM E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 723,497, dated March 24, 1903.

Application filed October 30,1902.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. STRAUSS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Port Gamble, in the county of Kitsap and State of Washington, haveinvented a'new and useful Adjustable Picture-Frame, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in picture-frames.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of picture-frames and to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient one of great strength and durability, capable of ready adjustment to enable it to be readily arranged 'to suit pictures of different sizes and shapes, and adapted to be readily transferred from one picture to another of a different size and shape from the one previously framed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a picture-frame of this character capable of being adjusted in either direction without afiecting its adjustment in the opposite direction.

The invention also has for its object to provide a backboard which will be capable of adjustment to fit the frame.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In'the drawings, Figure l. is a front elevation of an adjustable picture-frame constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view, the frame being lengthened. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the pictureframe, the same being both lengthened and widened. Fig. 4. is a front elevation, the picture-frame being widened. Fig. 5 is a' rear elevation of the picture-frame, the parts being arranged as shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional View on the line 6 6 of Fig.

2. Fig. 7 is a detail view of one of the sec: tions. Fig. 8 is a detail view of the adjust able backboard. V

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 designates a picture-frame composed of four corner-sections, each consisting of a pair Serial No. 129,425. (No model.)

of arms or bars 2, having mitered innerend's 3, connected together and preferably reinforced at the joint by exterior blocks or pieces 4, which may be ornamented in any desired manner; but plain pieces maybe employed, as will be readily understood. The arms or bars 2 are provided with parallel kerfs' 5, forming strips or ribs 6 and extending inward from the inner ends of the arms and terminating short of the outer mitered ends of the same. The strips or ribs of each arm are spaced apart to receive the strips or ribs of the adjacent arm of the opposite picture-frame section, whereby the corner-sections are slidably connected together to enable the pictureframe to be adjusted both laterally and vertically or longitudinally to fit pictures of different shapes and sizes. The picture-frame is capable of adjustmentin square form from the smallest size (shown in Fig.1 of the drawings) to the largest size, (illustrated in Fig. 3,) and it is also adapted to be Varied in length or width to form oblong frames, as illustrated in Figs. The corner-sections are preferably tapered in cross-section, as illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings, and are provided at their rear face with rabbets or recesses 7 to receive a glass 8 and a picture 9 in the ordinary manner, together with an adjustable backboard, hereinafter described. The ends of the strips or ribs are secured by suitable fastening devices 10 to tapering bands 11, conforming to the configuration of the arms and'terminating at the rear recesses or rabbets thereof. Each arm is provided with a band, which may be constructed of any suitable material, and the inner and outer ribs or strips formed by the said kerfs are preferably narrower than the intermediate ones, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive. The straps or hands are applied to the ends of the arms after the same have been assembled and partially lapped, so that the outward movement of the arms will be limited by the said straps or hands. The straps or bands, which slide on the outer ribs,-are provided with set-screws 12 for engaging the said outer strips or ribs for securing the frame in its adjusted position. The arms are tapered in cross-section to provide beveled front faces; but they may be of any other desired configuration, and the straps or bands will conform to the same.

The backboard is composed of upper and lower sections 13 and 14,-which are capable of longitudinal and lateral adjustment to correspond to the adjustment of the pictureframe sections, as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive. The lower sections are arranged to slide on the inner faces of the upper sections and are provided at-the outer edges of the latter with projections 15, and the upper sections 13 are connected by links or bars 16, arranged in pairs and connected at their outer ends by pivots 17 to the sections 13. The inner ends of the bars or links are connected by pivots 18. Each pair of bars or links has its members pivoted together at their outer ends, and the said bars or links form an adjustable brace or connection, which is adapted to yield to the lateral adjustment of the sections l3. The sections 14 by being arranged at the inner faces of the sections 13 are prevented from falling out of the frame. After the sections of the backboard have been adjusted they are secured to the pictureframe by means of tacks or'other suitable fastening devices in the usual manner, and, if de ired, the lower sections may be connected by a strip or piece attached to them after they have been adjusted to prevent them from moving inward.

It will be seen that the adjustable pictureframe is exceedingly simple and inexpensive in construction, that it is strong and durable, and that it is adapted to be adjusted in both directions and is also capable of independent adjustment in either direction. It will also be clear that the backboard is adjustable in either or both directions and that it may be readily arranged to correspond to the arrangement of the corner-sections of the pictureframe.

What is claimed is 1. Aframe comprising corner-sections having arms, said arms being provided with a plurality of spaced ribs or strips, the strips or ribs of one arm being arranged between those of the adjacent arm of the opposite section, and a band secured to the end of each strip or rib of one arm and a second band secured to the end of each strip or rib of the other arm and serving to maintain the ribs thereof in properly-spaced relation.

2. A frame comprising corner-sections having arms, said arms being provided with a plurality of spaced ribs or strips of which the outermost are of less Width than the remainder, guiding and clamping bands disposed at the ends of said ribs, one of said bands being plurality of spaced members and those of one 7 arm extending into the corresponding spaces of the opposite arm, a band secured to the end of each member of one arm and a second hand secured to the end of each member of the other arm to thereby maintain the members in properly-spaced relation, the rear portion of each arm being recessed for the reception of a picture.

4. A picture-frame comprising corner-sections having arms, each arm comprising a plurality of spaced members and those of one arm extending into the spaces of the opposite arm, a band embracing each arm and secured to each member thereof, said band serving to hold the members of the arm to which it is secured in properly-spaced relation and acting also as a guide for the members of the opposite arm, and a clamping-screw carried by each band and serving to clamp all the members tightly together.

5. A frame comprising adjustable sections provided with means for securing them together, and an adjustable backboard composed of sections, substantially as described.

6. A frame comprising adjustable framesections, and a backboard composed of adjustable sections arranged in pairs, the sections of one pair being located at the inner faces of the other pair and the latter being provided with an adjustable connectingdevice, substantially as described.

7. A frame comprising adjustable framesections, and an adjustable backboard composed of sections arranged in pairs, one pair being located at the inner face of the other and having means for engaging the outer edges thereof, and links arranged in pairs and forming an adjustable connecting device for the outer pair of sections, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES H. STRAUSS.

' l/Vitnesses:

BENJAMIN J. RosToN, ANTON M. SMITH. 

